Motor-action for self-playing musical instruments.



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L. B. DOMAN.

MOTOR AGTION FOR SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INS'PRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILEDsEPT. 2s, 190a.

0 6 Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

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v L. DOMAN. MOTOR ACTION FOR SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1906.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

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LEWIS B. DOMAN, OF ELBRIDGE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMPHION PIANO PLAYE RCOM- PANY, OF ELBRIDGE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOTOR-ACTION FOB SELF-PLAY'IN G MUICAL INSTRUIEENTS.

Original application filed August fl l flfi, Serial To all whom 'it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS B. DoMAN, of Elbridge, in the county ofOnondaga, in the State of New York,- have invented new and usefulImprovements in Motor-Actions for Self-Playing Musical Instruments, ofwhich the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a full, clear, and

. exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements 1n pneumatic motor actionand its governing mechanism for self-playing umsical instruments of theclass set forth 1n my pending application No. 329,692, filed August 8,1906, of which my present application is a division, In this class ofdevices a minus pressure or partial vacuum is maintained by a suitableexhausting device in certain parts of the motor action, and theoperation'of the motor neumatics is dependent upon means for alternatelyplacing them in communication with the exhaust device and atmosphere,said motor pneu matics being connected to a suitable driving shaftfortransmitting rotary motion thereto from which motionmay be transmittedto any mechanism which it may be desired to operate, such for instance,as the music-sheet operating mechanism, not necessary to hereinillustrate or describe as the winding and rewinding mechanism for themusic-sheet forms no part of my present invention.

My object is to produce a simple, practical and highly efiicient motoraction and its controlling mechanism as a single article of manufactureadapted to be installed within the case of a piano or similar instrumentto be used as one ofthe mechanical units of what is commonly known as an1 inside player, without altering-or unnecessarily mutilating the caseof the instrument, andfor this purpose it is adapted to be attached byflexible connections to such other parts of the player with which it isto communicate so that it may be adjusted more or less withoutliability. of straining or opening any of the joints or connectingparts.

One of the more specific objects is to control the operation of aplurality of motor 'pneumatics with a less number of valves than hasheretoforebeen employed as it'i s Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 6. 1908.

No. 329,692. Divided and this application filed September 26, 1906.

Serial No. 336,839.

customary to use one valve for each pneumat1c,whereas, in my presentinvention I have soughtto control a plurality of pneumatics with'asingle valve.

Another specific ple and practical object is to provide a simmeans forcontrolling at will, the'speed of the motor from maximum to minimum, and

vice versa, so that when used in connection with the winding and thetempo may be rewinding mechanism for the n'msic-sheet regulated to anicety, or,

full .force of exhausting neumatics may be thrown into the motor actionto actuate the same with a maximum speed during the rewind-ing of themusic-sheet.

A furthenobject is to provide means for cutting out the tempocontrolling pneumatic when it is desired tooperate the motor pneumaticswith increasing speed.

Other objects relating to the specific structure of the various partsand its controlling mechanism will be brought out in the fol- .lowlngdescrlption.

, In the drawings-Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved motoraction and its controlling means. taken on line 22 Fig. 2 is a sectionalview Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through thecontrolling mechanism for the motor action. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 aresectional views taken respectively onlines H, 55, 6-6,

The exhaust-dev ice, as -1, is connected by a flexible conduit to-avalvechamber-3 of a valve-chest .-4 constituting a part ofthecontrolling mechanism for the motor action. Th

e valve-chamber -3 is in permanent communication through a port 5-- witha tempo governing pneumatic -6-, which in turn, is connected by a valvedport 7-. with a second valve chamber 8 also within the valve-chest -I-.The governing pneumatic -(itherefore embraces both of the ports -5- andT- and forms a part of the connection between the wind-inducing -8,which latter device and valve chamber 1s connected by a flexible conduit9 to an exhaust-chamber -10- of a second Wind-chest 11- of the motor Aslide valve -actionpresently described.

12- is operable manually through the medium of an actuating rod 14'attached at one end to its movable side and having its other endadjust-ably connected by a screw and nut 15 to an extension, .as -1(3,of the valve-chest This governing pneumatic 6, together with the ports5- and 7 form an 111- direct passage or connection between the valvechamber 3- and valve chamber 8, which latter is connected directly tothe exhaust chamber 10 of the motor action. This indirect passage isalways more or less open, the degree. of opening being regulated by thevalve -12 moving across the port 7, which in turn, regulates in ameasure the action of the pneumatic *(i against the tension of thespring 1l. The movable side of this governing pneumatic is provided witha porous valve 1 7 co-actin'g with the ort 5 to further regulatecommunication between the valve chamber 3 and port -7 in' the followingmanner: When the. valve 12- is fullopen, as shown in- Fig.3, the forceof the air tension in vthe chamber 10 is at its maximum, although anyexcess of tension which may be produced by the wind-inducing device willtend to collapse the governing pneumatic -6- against the action of itsspring 1%1, which in turn, will cause the porous valve 17 to partiallyclose the port 5- to temporarily subdue the force of the increasedtension in the motor action, or until normal tension is restored by thespring 14 reacting to 'distend th'e pneumatic +6 to its normal position.The adjustment of the spring 14, therefore, determines'the degree ofpressure or air force I necessaryto collapse the pneumatic to partiallyclose the valve .17, but it is evident that the same effect may beproduced by partially closing the valve 12, which reduces the force ofthe actuating air' in the valve chamber 8 and exhaust-chamber Qzi.,while at the same time the full air tension from the exhaust device isthrown into the governing pneumatic tending to collapse the same againstthe action of the spring 14- and'to automatically move the valve 17 tothe port 5 to partially cut off communication between said exhaustdevice and governing pneumatic, thereby further subduing the force ofair passing through the port -7.

The degree of vacuum in the system is. of course, variable and would besuflicient at tunes to completely collapse the governing pneumatic --6-against the action of its retracting spring, which would cause the valve17- to more positively close the ort 5. This, of course, would beobjectionable and in order to obviate such conditions I interposeadditional resistance by provid'-' ing the movable side of the governingpneumatic 6 with an auxiliary fulcrum bearing 18- and adjustable fulcrum-49- some distance from the hinge, as 20, of said movable side of thepneumatic .the fulcrum 19 being adjustable by means of ascrew 21.

The bearing 18- is secured to the fixed side of and within the pneumatic-6-' between the ports -5 and -7 and the fulcrum l9 and its adjustingscrew 21- are mounted upon the movable side of said pneumaticsubstantially midway between its ends and adapted to engage the bearing18- just before the valve 17 closes the port 5, thereby shifting thefulcrum farther from the resistance oll'ered by the connection of thespring -l4- with the rod l5, and correspondingly increasing theresistance to the closing of the valve or collapse of the pneumatic -6there being a slight play of the hinged end of the pneumatic -6 topermit this shifting of the fulcrum. This assures an open, thoughconstricted communication between the ports 5 and 7-, or rather betweenthe exhaust device and motor action through the governing pneumatic andenables the speed of action of the motors to be more closely regulated.

I have now described the tempo controlling mechanism during the playingof the musical selection, but it is sometimes necessary to operate themotor pneunialics with an increased speed requiring the full force ortension of the exhausting device. as for instance, in the rewinding ofthe music-sheet, and for this purpose I provide the partition betweenthe chambers -3 and -S- with a connecting port 22 having associatedtherewith, a valve -23- adapted to'he operated by the primary pneumatic---24- also within the valve-chest i-.

The valve 22 opens into the valve chamber S and is provided ivith a stop25 for engaging the upper side of the chamber 8- and limiting theopening movement of the valve 22-, the object of which is to controldirect communication between the chambers 3 and -S and to establishdirect communication between the wind-inducing device and motor action.This valve 22- is opened by the inflation of the pneumatic -24--, whichlatter operation is controlled at will through the medium of the valve26- and port -Q(' mosphere so that when the valve ---2G--.

which operated manually through the medium of a rod 27, is opened tovuncover the port -26' atmospheric air is admitted to and operates toinflate the pneumatic -2l-, thereby opening the valve 23- from its port-22-- and establish ducing device and motor action.

It is now evident that the exhaust cham ber -10-- of the motor action isin permanent communication with the exhaust device through the conduit9- and wind-chest 4.--. of'the controlling mechanism and that the airtension in said chamber -10- is governed by the position of thepneumatic of minus pressure maintained in the cham- 6 and valve 23 andthat by connecting a series of motor pneumatics, as -3t) with theexhaust-chamber 10-,

these pneumatics will be operated with a force and speedcorresponding'to the degree One of the distinctive features of thismotor action is that a plurality of, in this instance two, motorpneumatics 30- are alternately placed in communication with twointermediate pneumatics -30-.

the exhaustchamber l0- and with atmosphere through the medium of asinglgLva-lve,

as '32', of which there are two each controlling the action of a pair ofneumatics 3Q, and for this purpose I provide each valve 32 with achamber or channel 33- and also prbvide the chamber 10- with a pair ofseparate ports -34- each communicating with its valve chamber Associatedwith each of the" ports 3tis a pair of ports -35 arranged in verticalalinement with but at opposite sides of the exhaust-port -34, the upperports of each pair communicating through separate passages -36- with theend pneumatics 30- while the lower ports 85 communicate through separatepassages '-37- with the These val-d es are reciprocated back and forthin suitable guides --38 by means of rods -39,- which'are attached at oneend to the valves and have their upper ends attached to the intermediatelinks 31.

The area of each valve is snflicient to cover all threeof the pdrts withwhich it is registered, but this chamber -33- is only of sufiicient areato embrace two adjacent ports, that is, the middle exhaust port -34- andone or theother of {the valve ports which open to atmosphere whenuncovered by the valve The vertical movement of the valve 32- issubstantially equal to the compound vertical widths of the lower andupper ports 35 and the chambers -33 of said valves are therefore, alwaysin communication with the exhaust device through the ports --34"andchamber -10-, and when each valve is removed to its extreme up or downposition, it embraces the exhaust port -3l-- and one of the ports 35while the other port 35 is open to atmosphere, thereby causing theexhaust and deflation of one of the pneumatics 30- while the other isbeing inflated by the atmosphere. Each valve, therefore, controls a pairof adjacent neumatics, as in this instance, one intermediate an'd oneend pneumatic and the crank-arms of the shaft 3lfor each pair ofpneumatics are offset the same distance at diametrically opposite sidesof the axis of said shaft, the crank arms of one pair being disposed ina plane at substantially right angles to that of the other pair so thatthose to which the two intermediate pneuinatics are connected arearranged a quarter turn, one in advance of the other, and the alternatecrank-arms are also arranged a quarter turn one in advance of the other,thereby preventing any possibility of a .dead-center lock, and assuringthe starting of the crank-shaft by the motors from any stoppingposition.

The valve rods 39 are attached to the two intermediate links-31- a shortdistance inwardly from the crank-arms to give the desired verticalmovement to the valves so that when one of these crank-arms and itscorresponding valve are in their extreme lower positions, as shown inFig. 8, to connect the lower port with the exhaust device, leaving theupper port open to atmosphere,

' the pneumatic connected to the lower port is being deflated, whilethat connected to the upper port is being inflated, during which timethe other valve is covering the upper and lower ports so that duringthenext quarter turn of the crank-shaft the first'na-med valve is movedtoclose both of its upper and lower ports, and on the next quarter turnconnects the upper port and its corresponding pneumatic to the exhaustdevice and opens the lower port and its corresponding pneumatic toatmosphere, and on the third quartert-urnuagain closes both the upperand lowerports, and on the last quarter, returns said valve to "thestarting position. This action is the'salne for both valves except thatone of the valves is a quarter turn of its movement in advance of theother. It therefore, follows that in one position of the crankshaft thetwo upperports and their corresponding'pneumatics are open to atmospherewhile the two lower ports and their corresponding pneumatics are placedincom- 'and said wind chest outside of &

municat-ion with the exhaust device and that when the crank-shaft ismoved a half revolution the two lower ports and their correspondingpneumatics are open to atmosphere, while the two upper ports and theircorre'- sponding pneumatics :e connected to the exhaust device. Thisassociation of two atmospheric ports for two pneumatics with a singleexhaust port enables me to control a plurality of Pneumatics with asingle valve and at the same time to obtain a steady action of thecrank-shaft without the liability of dead-center lock.

' The operation of my invention will now be readily understood uponreference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings,and it will be observed that the motor action proper and itscont-rolling mechanism are built together as a single mechanical unit tofacilitate its installation in the case of a piano or similar instrumentwithout alteration or unnecessary mutilation of such case, and in orderthat the operation may be complete, I have shown the valve rods --13--and 27- as connected to suitable hand levers shown in Fig.- 1, wherebythe motor mechanism maybe easily cont-rolled at the will of theoperator.

\Vhat. I claim is:

1. In a motor action for self-playing musical instruments, a windchesthaving exhaust ports and atmosphere ports, motor pneumaticscommunicating with the atmosphere ports, means actuated'by the motorpneumatics for opening and closing the atmosphere ports and alternatelyconnecting them with the exhaust port, an exhaust device, a governorpneumatic forming a part of a connection between the exhaust device andexhaust port of the wind chest and provided with a valve for partiallycutting off communication as the air tension increases, and pneumaticmeans for establishing direct communication between the exhaust deviceand wind chest outside of the governor pneumatic.

2. In a motor action for self-playing musical instruments, a pneumaticmotor including a wind chest, an exhaust device, connec tions. betweenthe exhaust device and wind chest including a governor pneumatic forminga part of such connection, and a valve mounted directly upon the movableside of the governing pneumatic for reducing the air tension in themotor as the air tension in the pneumatic increases and means includinga primary pneumatic for establishing direct communication between theexhaust device the governor pneumatic.

In a motor action for self-playing musical instruments, a pneumaticmotor including a Wind chest 'a-n exhaust device, connections betweenthe exhaust device and wind chest including a governor pneumatic forregulating the air tension in the motor, said governor pneumatic forminga part of the connection between the exhaust devicel and pneumatic meansfor establishing direct communication between the exhaust device andwind chest, outside of the governor pneumatic.

4. In a motor action for self-playing musical instrument, an exhaustdevice, a pneu- 'matic motor including a wind chest, :1 governorpneumatic for regulating the air tension in the wind chest, a valvechamber communicating with the governor pneumatic and connected directlyto the wind chest, a valve controlling communication between the valvechamber and governing pneumatic, an exhaust chamber connected to theexhaust device and communicating with said governor pneumatic, a valvedport connecting the valve chamber with said exhaust chamher, aself-closing valve for said port, and pneumatic means for opening saidvalve to establish direct communication between the exhaust device andwind chest outside of the governor pneumatic.

5. A motor action for self-playing musical instruments comprising anexhaust.- dcvice, a wind-chest having an exhaust port and atmosphereports, the exhaust port communieating with the exhaust device,pncumatics each connected to one of the atmosphere orts a valve coverinthe exhaust )Olb and alternately connecting the atmosphere port thereto,means actuated by the motor pneumatics for actuating said valve, agoverning pneumatic in and forming a part of the connection between theexhaust device and 'exhaust port, and pneumatically operated means forestablishing direct communication between the exhaust device and windchest.

6. In a motor action for self-playing musical instruments, an exhaustdevice, a windchest having atmosphere ports and an intermediate exhaustport, the latter communicating with the exhaust device, motor pneu--matics, each communicating with one of the atmosphere ports, a valveand actuating means therefor coacting with said ports to control theaction of the motor pncumatics, a governing pneumatic in the connectionbetween the exhaust. device and wind-chest, a valveactuated by saidgoverning pneumatic to regulate the air tension in the wind-chest, avalve chamber communicating with the governing pneumatic and providedwith a port having direct connnunicatitm with the exhaust device outsideof said governing pneumatic, said valve chamber forming a part of theconnection between the exhaust device andwind-chest, avalve normallyclosing the last na 7, port, a primarv pncumatic for operating the lastnamed valve, said primary pneumatic having a. port adapted to be openedto atmosphere, and an additional alve for the last named port wherebywhen open the primary pneumatic is actuated by the inflowlng atmosphericair to open the second named valve and thereby establish directcommunication between the exhaust device and Wind-chest.

In witness'whereof I have hereunto set my hand-this 21 day of September1906.

LEWIS B. DOMAN.

Witnesses:

FRED C. CARPENTER, M. E. ELLIOTT.

